The block of Hope Street, between 11th and 12th in Downtown LA became site to the People St Block Party held on the evening of August 23rd. The National Planning Achievement Award for Best Practice bestowed to the People St program for the 2016 Excellence Awards was celebrated on this special city block: home of the Hope St Parklet. The American Planning Association Los Angeles Chapter and the South Park Business Improvement District generously hosted the exciting evening featuring bites and beverages by the Briks, DJ music, and the award presentation featuring Councilmember Jose Huizar, Director of City Planning Vince Bertoni and LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds. A special performance by the S.H.I.N.E. Mawusi Women’s African Drum Circle, from the Leimert Park Art Walk and Festival of Masks graced the celebration and put the crowd to dance and sing.

Hope Street block closed for the People St Block Party (Photo credit: LADOT)

People St is pleased to announce the official opening of Motor Ave Parklets. These two sister Parklets are located on Motor Ave in the Palms, near National Boulevard and were made possible by the hard work of our Community Partner, the Motor Avenue Improvement Association (MAIA). From the inaugural 2014 application cycle, the Motor Avenue Parklets complete the installation of 3 Plazas and 3 Parklets initially approved to move forward when the People St program first began.

The Motor Ave Parklets are part of the MAIA Urban Garden’s “innovative partnership” goal: making strides to address sustainable food production and access. These Parklets, along with the Motor Ave Farmers Market, School Gardens Program, and Community Garden Network “promote the health, synergy, and self-reliance of local community.” Various vegetables, fruits and kitchen herbs are grown in the Parklet planters, such as mint, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries and tomatoes. The 3370 Parklet is also located along the frontage of a vacant lot that MAIA worked with the local neighborhood to repurpose as an urban garden.

3370 Motor Ave Parklet is next to a vacant lot now repurposed as an urban garden

The design of the 3370 Motor Parklet is based in the People St Kit of Parts “The Diagonal” model, with a triangular seat shape that also offers a generous space for planting. The 3272 Motor Parklet is a smaller version of “The Diagonal” with an inverted triangle seat shape. Both Parklets are made from wood and site on a diagonal patterned wood deck that rests on a steel frame.

Construction in early 2016, with in-kind construction services from Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company

These sister Parklets are located just a few minutes’ walk from the Metro Expo Line (Palms Stop). Part of a People St project is the iconic identity signage and wayfinding map to orient visitors to local points of interests. Along Motor Avenue, you’ll find shops and cafes, as well as the Motor Ave Community Garden and a bike lane connecting to the surrounding neighborhoods.

3272 Motor Ave Parklet is a few minutes’ walk from the Metro Expo Line

MAIA partnered with various small business and private groups for facilitation and assistance in procurement of materials, in-kind design and construction services. These groups included Utopiad.org, Berry & Linne, JMB Realty Corporation and Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company as well as local small businesses Frost/Chaddock Developers, LLC/MLofts and Waters Auto Body. Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, Transportation Committee Chair Councilmember Mike Bonin and the office of Councilmember Paul Koretz also provided support for these Parklets. By leveraging these donations, MAIA was able to significantly reduce the total cost of bringing these Parklets to life.